If done well, SEO (search engine optimization) can send thousands of targeted visitors to your website every month.
This turns your site from an afterthought into an asset that generates leads and sales.
Backlinko started as a simple personal blog in 2012, publishing one or two posts per month. In the first two years, our traffic grew from a few hundred monthly visitors to several thousand.
Now it generates over 680K monthly sessions, with 74% coming from organic searches.
Set Up Your Website
If you haven’t already set up your site, it’s time to choose a platform.
Choose one that matches your technical skill level and business needs. For example, many website builders offer drag-and-drop editors. Making it easier for you to design and customize sites.
Get a Domain Name
Your domain name is your website’s address on the internet.
So, choose a domain name that’s:
- Relevant and reflects your business or brand name
- Easy to remember and pronounce
- Concise—avoid long and complex names. Ideally, don’t exceed two to three words. And limit it to 15 characters or fewer so it’s easy for customers to type.
- Unique, stands out, and isn’t easily confused with other websites
Select a Theme
Your website’s theme determines its overall look and feel. Choose a preset theme that aligns with your brand identity and is mobile-responsive.
Then, customize it to make it your own.
To create a consistent and memorable brand, add your:
- Logo
- Brand colors
- Fonts
- Graphics or photos
Prioritize Security
Security measures are essential for user trust and SEO, as Google prioritizes secure websites in search results.
Secure your website with an SSL certificate (HTTPS) to protect your visitors’ information using data encryption.
Optimize for Mobile Screens
More than half of all web traffic comes from mobile devices. So, ensure your website is mobile-responsive. Meaning it adapts to different screen sizes.
Most modern themes and website templates offer responsive designs. But you can easily test how mobile-friendly your site is by accessing it on your smartphone or tablet.